2003
Howard M. Metzenbaum
Ohio Citizen Action Award
Love Canal champion Lois
Gibbs, Executive Director, Center for Health, Environment and Justice.
"I can tell you Teresa's story through telling you my own story. When I learned in 1978 that my children's school in Love Canal was built next to 20,000 tons of hazardous waste, everybody told me 'you can't fight City Hall.' And maybe we couldn't fight City Hall -- but we could fight the Mayor, and we could keep coming to council meetings and fish fries and bring picket signs everywhere he went until he listened to us. And that's exactly what Teresa did to get the Columbus trash-burning plant closed down. I have heard from people all over the country who have called Teresa for advice on how to fight pollution problems in their own communities. . . Even when she had a broken neck, Teresa was still answering the phone, patiently giving guidance on how to win their fights."
"I can tell you Teresa's story through telling you my own story. When I learned in 1978 that my children's school in Love Canal was built next to 20,000 tons of hazardous waste, everybody told me 'you can't fight City Hall.' And maybe we couldn't fight City Hall -- but we could fight the Mayor, and we could keep coming to council meetings and fish fries and bring picket signs everywhere he went until he listened to us. And that's exactly what Teresa did to get the Columbus trash-burning plant closed down. I have heard from people all over the country who have called Teresa for advice on how to fight pollution problems in their own communities. . . Even when she had a broken neck, Teresa was still answering the phone, patiently giving guidance on how to win their fights."